business program might cover topics like accounting
,ENG3703 Assignment 3 2025 (Answer Guide) - DUE
September 2025 students for leadership and management roles in various industries. It focuses on critical thinking, decision-making, problem-
solving, and understanding organizational processes. A typical business program might cover topics like accounting
A Critical Comparison of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Approaches to
the Study of Literature
Introduction
The study of literature has long been shaped by different
critical approaches, each offering unique perspectives for
interpreting texts. Two dominant frameworks are intrinsic and
extrinsic approaches. The intrinsic approach focuses on the
text itself—its structure, style, language, imagery, and form—
without necessarily considering external contexts. In contrast,
the extrinsic approach examines literature in relation to
external factors such as history, psychology, sociology, politics,
and the author’s life. Both methods have significantly
contributed to literary criticism, but they differ in theory,
practice, and scope. This paper critically compares intrinsic
and extrinsic approaches, highlighting their strengths,
weaknesses, and overall relevance in literary studies.
Intrinsic Approaches: Theory and Practice
The intrinsic approach (sometimes called formalism,
structuralism, or New Criticism) treats the literary text as an
autonomous object. The meaning of the work is derived from
, its internal elements rather than external circumstances. Key
features include: students for leadership and management roles in various industries. It focuses on critical thinking, decision-making, problem-solving,
and understanding organizational processes. A typical business program might cover topics like accounting
• Focus on form and structure: The arrangement of words,
narrative technique, plot, rhyme, rhythm, and imagery.
• Close reading: A detailed analysis of the language,
symbols, metaphors, and literary devices.
• Unity of the text: The belief that a good work of literature
forms a coherent whole where all parts contribute to
meaning.
For example, when reading a Shakespearean sonnet, an
intrinsic critic would analyze rhyme scheme, metaphor, and
thematic unity without considering Shakespeare’s personal life
or Elizabethan history.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Intrinsic Approaches
Strengths:
1. Objectivity: By concentrating on the text itself, intrinsic
criticism avoids bias linked to historical or personal
contexts.
2. Precision: Close reading provides detailed insights into
how meaning is constructed through literary techniques.